Adaptive radiation has resulted in high morphological diversity amongst the phylum Annelida.
Feeding and locomotion adaptations show great variation.
Discuss this statement giving at least three examples of each.
Solution
adaptive radiation is defined as diversification of species in response to natural selection and
ecological opprtunities.
Annelids show a great diversityin terms of feeding mechanisms:
macrofeeders eg. nereis feeds on worms. In case of detritus feeders ,tentacles in food grove bring
particles to animal example Arinicola is a subsurface deposit feeder and Amphitrite is a surface
deposit feeder. Mucous suspension feeders eg, Chaetopterus.Tenticulate suspension feeders such
as Sabella
in terms of locomotion,
The errant or wandering polychaetes have prominent lateral bristles projecting from the
parapodia. In case of burrowers,there is reduced parapodia.Digging is facilitated by peristaltic
movement.Sedentary polychaetes are usually adapted to live in tubes or burrows. Some
sedentary polychaetes eg Arenicola live in burrows while others are tube builders..
Adaptive radiation has resulted in high morphological diversity amon.pdf
1. Adaptive radiation has resulted in high morphological diversity amongst the phylum Annelida.
Feeding and locomotion adaptations show great variation.
Discuss this statement giving at least three examples of each.
Solution
adaptive radiation is defined as diversification of species in response to natural selection and
ecological opprtunities.
Annelids show a great diversityin terms of feeding mechanisms:
macrofeeders eg. nereis feeds on worms. In case of detritus feeders ,tentacles in food grove bring
particles to animal example Arinicola is a subsurface deposit feeder and Amphitrite is a surface
deposit feeder. Mucous suspension feeders eg, Chaetopterus.Tenticulate suspension feeders such
as Sabella
in terms of locomotion,
The errant or wandering polychaetes have prominent lateral bristles projecting from the
parapodia. In case of burrowers,there is reduced parapodia.Digging is facilitated by peristaltic
movement.Sedentary polychaetes are usually adapted to live in tubes or burrows. Some
sedentary polychaetes eg Arenicola live in burrows while others are tube builders.
